NCCo to launch Great Schools, Clean Streams campaign Friday

New Castle County residents soon will be able to help their local schools this month by pledging to properly dispose of used cooking grease.

By Scott Goss

New Castle County residents soon will be able to help their local schools this month by pledging to properly dispose of used cooking grease.

The Great Schools, Clean Streams program, sponsored by New Castle County's Department of Special Services, will be collecting pledges at greatschoolscleanstreams.org from Friday to April 19.

County residents who sign the online pledge also will be able to select a public, private or charter school in the county. The schools with the most pledges at the end of the campaign will win cash prizes to pay for on-campus tree plantings, stream cleanups, rain barrels and other educational science projects.

Homeowners also will benefit from keeping cooking grease out of their drains by avoiding the clogged pipes, toilet backups and plumber bills caused by improper disposal, according to department spokesman Daniel Sullivan.

"We're working with local schools to educate country residents about simple steps they can take to protect their own plumbing and the county's sewer systems," he said. "Here's what residents should do with their leftover cooking grease: Pour it in a can, and throw the can in the trash."